- Ariana Grande released her new single "Yes, And?" on Friday.
- The upbeat pop song is about Grande living her "most authentic life" and brushing off criticism.
- In the bridge, she alludes to speculation about her relationship with Ethan Slater.
Ariana Grande has returned to pop music with "Yes, And?" — the lead single from her forthcoming seventh album.
The upbeat song draws from disco and house influences, recalling Madonna's "Vogue" and Beyoncé's "Break My Soul." The lyrics focus on Grande living her "most authentic life" and encouraging others to do the same.
In the bridge, Grande addresses her critics head-on, condemning speculation about her appearance and dating habits.
"My face is sitting, I don't need no disguise / Don't comment on my body, do not reply," she sings. "Your business is yours and mine is mine / Why do you care so much whose **** I ride?"
Grande also calls herself "protected, sexy, discerning with my time," despite the magnifying glass on her personal life.
This is hardly new territory for Grande, who has released many songs with similar themes and messages throughout her career: "Shut Up" ("Keep opinions muted for the hell of it, 'cause I like my shit"), "Just Like Magic" ("Keep my conscience clear, that's why I'm so magnetic"), "Fake Smile" (I read the things they write about me / Hear what they're saying on the TV, it's crazy"), "The Light Is Coming" ("They are so confused, who cares about their rationale?").
However, Grande has faced increased scrutiny in recent months, particularly in the wake of her divorce from Dalton Gomez.
Shortly after Grande's split from Gomez was reported, news broke that she was in a new relationship with her "Wicked" costar, Ethan Slater, who was also married at the time. He and his wife, Lilly Jay, had welcomed their first child a few months prior.
According to multiple reports, Slater and his wife were already separated when he began dating Grande. For her part, Jay told Page Six that Grande is "not a girl's girl" and described her own family as "collateral damage."